AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED (ALS)

[Rome], [April 1859]. Framed Letter. Light spotting to letter, some soiling at very bottom of letter covering up part of the words of the postscript. Letter examined out of frame and no other defects observed. Very Good. Handwritten letter SIGNED "Elizabeth B. Browning" on a 3-3/8" x 5-1/4" sheet of paper matted and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 10-1/2" x 8-1/4". Browning has written "43 Bocca di Leone" as a return address. The letter is addressed to a Miss Shepard. In part: "I send the beef-tea, & will you let me know tomorrow when more shall be wanted -- & whether the gelatina made of chicken would be a desirable change?-- Use me, I beg of you-- I do congratulate you all, out of a full heart--." A postscript: "One word of verbal message to say how she is today." An interesting insight into the domestic side of the famous poet. EBB to Ada Shepard (4382), as published in THE BROWNINGS' CORRESPONDENCE, 26, 117, where the date is given as Sunday [?10] [April 1859: "Conjectural date suggested by EBB's references to easily digestible food, doubtless for Una Hawthorne"; and the text is taken from AAA's (American Art Association) Catalogue, 6 May 1915.